Barbara Kemner
Her name was Barbara Ann Kemner. She was born 80 years ago in Davenport, Iowa, the daughter of Bernard Buckley and Antoinette Vonderharr; she was “daddy’s girl.”
She was the love of Alex Kemner’s life. They met during her summer visits to Quincy when she stayed on Cherry Street with her Aunt Margy and Uncle Dink whom she loved dearly. Alex passed away 6 years ago and she felt his absence every day.
She was the Mother of Terri, Ken, Steve, Dan, and Caren. She adored her children and wanted nothing more than to always be there for them.
She was a Grandmother, overjoyed as each grandchild was born: Jason, Jenny, Kevin, Kristie, Jessica, Ryan, Evan, Justin, Jordan, Katelyn, Andrew, and Anthony.
She was a Great Grandmother to Emily, Kooper, Hannah, Marryn, Abigail, Lillian, Ethan, Charlston, and twins, Calvin & Noah. She cherished them, checking her Ipad daily for pictures and videos.
Barb was known to be quite particular, compulsively tidy, anxious, and strong willed. But she was also soft spoken in a loud family, the memorized phone number who always picked up, and the one person who could make everything better. There’s a little Barb in all of us that were hers’ and that’s a good thing.
She was the infamous unspoken, “I love you too” that focused rather on showing you what it was to love and care for a family. She prayed (oh how she prayed!) for all of us.
She is the lazy Susan filled with candy, summers in the pool, the back & forth of a porch swing, the Danielle Steel novel, she is cookies and fudge, meatloaf and chicken noodle soup, she is the playing cards at Christmas & Thanksgiving, the laundromat, Sprouts, the housecoat and slippers.
Barb died September 8, 2017 in Blessing Hospital with her children at her bedside. She was preceded in death by her parents, her mother-in-law, Dorothy Zanger Kemner, her husband, her brother, William Buckley, and her sister-in-law, Dorothy Kemner Rodgers.
She is survived by her children, Therese Kemner, Kenneth (Patricia) Kemner, Steven (Angela) Kemner, Daniel (Diane) Kemner, and Caren Kemner; her grandchildren, Jason Patrick, Jennifer (Kevin) Arens, Kevin Patrick, Kristie (Payne) Kemner-Schoen, Jessica (Kurtis) McCabe, Ryan (Allison) Kemner, Justin (Anna) Kemner, Evan (Amber) Kemner, Jordan Kemner; Andrew, and Anthony Kemner, Katelyn (Drew) Cancienne and her great-grandchildren, Emily, Hannah and Ethan Arens, Abigail and Lillian Kemner, Kooper and Marryn McCabe, and Charlston Schoen, Calvin & Noah Kemner.
Numerous other relatives, including brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
If you knew Barb, if you cared for her, prayed for her, please attend her visitation at Duker & Haugh Funeral Home on Monday evening from 4:00 until 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 12th, 2017 at 9:30 am at the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home and at 10:00 am for a funeral mass at St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church, burial at Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be made in her name to St. Francis School, “Alex & Barb’s Wish.”
Our thoughts and prayers for you and your families.
It was my honor to have met your mother once, at one of Caren’s matches along with Aunt Dorothy.
May your mother’s life shine on in those whose lives she touched.
Best to you
Bruce and Dianne Huddleson
Diane, Dan, and rest of the Kemner family, we are so sorry for your loss. May God grant you peace and comfort during your time of loss and sorrow.
Sorry for your loss. Praying for Caren and her family during this difficult time.
Barb was the neighborhood watch! Nothing happened that she didn’t know about. I will miss seeing and talking to her on her front porch and at her front door. Now Barb and Alex are together sitting on Heaven’s front porch, waiting for all of us to join them. Until then, God Bless Barb and God Speed.
So sorry for your loss. You will be in my prayers.
Terri and brothers, sister and family. I was honored to have met and worked alongside your dear Mom Barb. May her memory be eternal. Prayers for Peace
My deepest sympathy to all of the Kemner family on the loss of your mom and grandma. I remember the QND years with Kristie, who I still feel was the best Kemner girl volleyball player (sorry Caren). I will offer mass for Barbara and for all your family. Peace, Fr Chuck
Dear Family – I am sorry for your loss – I wish you peace
Dan and Diane and the Kemner family. We are sorry for your loss, you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Dan, Diane & entire family our thoughts and prayers are with you.